We were lucky to catch up with Alexander Geht recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexander, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The Story Behind Testa-Seat: A Journey of Empathy, Innovation, and Determination
Back in 2015, I found myself at a crossroads. I was in my third year of a Bachelor’s program in Industrial Design, fully immersed in figuring out the kind of designer I wanted to become. At the same time, I was starting to imagine what it might mean to be a parent one day. These two paths converged in an unexpected and deeply emotional way when I began volunteering at children’s rehabilitation hospitals, working with kids with physical disabilities like Cerebral Palsy (CP).

My first visit to a children’s hospital specializing in rehabilitation is something I’ll never forget. A therapist named Hilla Boral gave me a tour, and it was an experience I wasn’t prepared for. I met children fighting battles most of us couldn’t even imagine, starting from their very first days of life. I watched as therapists worked tirelessly to help them achieve what many of us take for granted—standing, walking, even making eye contact.

Walking through those halls, I was struck by the outdated and impersonal equipment these kids relied on. My heart sank when I saw tiny crutches and bulky wooden tools that felt cold and clinical—completely at odds with the warmth and determination of the children using them. These weren’t just tools; they were obstacles that held kids back instead of lifting them up.

The turning point came at another hospital when a therapist showed me a 30-year-old custom seat. It had been handcrafted by a local artisan and was cherished because nothing else worked as well. The therapist looked at me and said, “We love this seat, but no one makes them anymore.”

That was it. I couldn’t walk away.

Good posture isn’t just about comfort—it’s about giving kids the ability to interact with their world, improve their health, and build confidence. But the problem was bigger than I imagined. Custom seating for kids is expensive, complicated, and considered too niche by most manufacturers. Therapists and families were left struggling to adapt ill-fitting equipment or making do without. It was heartbreaking to see kids and families locked into this reality simply because no one was willing to take on the challenge.

I realized I had a unique opportunity to help. My experience with 3D printing and parametric design gave me the tools to disrupt this broken system. Partnering with therapists, we began experimenting with how 3D printing could create fully custom seats quickly and affordably.

After weeks of work, we created our first digital file for a child’s seat, precisely tailored to their needs. When we printed that first seat and placed the child in it, I’ll never forget their smile. It was the best posture they’d ever had, and in that moment, I knew we were onto something special. That smile was the beginning of Testa-Seat.

This journey isn’t just about designing a product. It’s about empowering kids, supporting families, and creating a future where no one is left behind. At Testa-Seat, we believe that every child deserves the tools they need to thrive—no matter how small or specialized those tools may be.

Alexander, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

About Me and Testa-Seat: Empowering Families, One Seat at a Time

For those meeting me for the first time—hi, I’m Alexander Geht! My journey into the world design for disabilities began in 2014 during my time as a student of Industrial Design. What started as a volunteer experience at children’s rehabilitation hospitals turned into a lifelong mission to create meaningful solutions for kids with physical disabilities and their families.

At Testa-Seat, we specialize in designing and producing custom adaptive seating systems for children with disabilities. Our seats are lightweight, waterproof, easy to clean, and fully customizable. But more than that, they’re designed with love and care to ensure the child’s comfort, proper posture, and freedom to participate in life. We know that a well-designed seat can make an incredible difference—not just for the child, but for the entire family.

What Problems Do We Solve?

Imagine a family with a newborn fighting for their life and development, day in and day out. In addition to managing diagnoses and daily routines, they also need to make sure their child can sit. Without the ability to sit, the child will struggle to participate in most daily activities, face limitations in traveling, and have a higher chance of developing spinal deformities.

Families raising children with physical disabilities face unique challenges. Off-the-shelf solutions often fall short—either they’re not customized to the child’s specific needs or they’re prohibitively expensive, leaving these families with limited options. That’s where we step in.

We use cutting-edge 3D printing technology to create custom seats that perfectly fit the child, reducing the need for multiple, very expensive pieces of equipment. We work closely with therapists, caregivers, and parents to design solutions that not only meet functional needs but also provide families more independence and freedom, making more memorable moments together.

What Sets Us Apart?

What makes Testa-Seat truly special is our commitment to understanding the struggles of our users and designing products to help overcome these challenges. Based on this approach, we recognize that every child has their own unique shape and needs. That’s why we focus on our unique customization platform rather than a one-size-fits-all seat. Think about it like visiting a tailor—everything is designed specifically for the individual.

We don’t just design seats; we create unique opportunities for open conversations with therapists and families. We start by understanding the child’s needs and the therapist’s recommendations, and based on this input, we create a custom 3D-printed seat that can be delivered on the same day. Our process begins with listening—really listening—to the needs of families and therapists. We believe the best solutions come from shared efforts, and our adaptive seating systems reflect that.

The most important and challenging part of our mission is bringing affordability and accessibility to an area often overlooked by larger manufacturers. We work to balance sustaining the company while keeping our vision of affordability. Using 3D printing allows us to keep costs down while offering a level of customization that traditional manufacturing can’t match.

What Am I Most Proud Of?

I’m most proud when I see families enjoy another meal together or move freely thanks to one of our seats. Every time we deliver a seat and see a child light up because they can sit comfortably and interact with the world around them, it’s an indescribable feeling. Knowing that we’re not just providing a product but helping families feel supported and empowered is what drives me every day.

I’m also proud of the community we’re building. At Testa-Seat, we believe in inclusion, innovation, and empathy. We’re not just solving problems; we’re creating possibilities.

What Should You Know About Us?

Testa-Seat is here to make life a little easier and a lot brighter for kids with disabilities and their families. Whether it’s a custom seat for a growing child, support for therapists seeking better tools, or simply a listening ear—we’re in this together.

To potential clients, followers, or anyone curious about our work: We’re here to support, innovate, and empower. Every seat we create is a step toward making the world a more accessible place for all.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

Do You Manufacture Your Product(s)?

This is one of the most unique aspects of Testa-Seat, especially in today’s fast-paced world of investments and business. Manufacturing a hardware product is notoriously challenging. It’s complicated, expensive, and requires significant resources just to get started. But we’ve taken a different approach—one that allows us to grow sustainably while keeping our focus on delivering custom solutions.

The key to Testa-Seat’s success lies in our design skills and the progress made in 3D printing technology. Unlike traditional manufacturers who require substantial upfront investments and outsourcing, we started small, creating seats one at a time. This approach let us avoid the need for massive capital or dependence on large-scale operations.

In the beginning, we collaborated with 3D printer manufacturers on a commission basis. This partnership allowed us to produce our seats without owning the printers outright, keeping costs low and operations flexible. Over time, as demand grew and our processes became more refined, we invested in our own 3D printers. Today, we have the capacity to produce over 3,000 seats per year in-house, completely eliminating our reliance on outsourcing. This independence has not only reduced our costs but also enabled us to maintain the high level of customization that sets Testa-Seat apart.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is the importance of flexibility and scalability. Starting small and leveraging partnerships allowed us to adapt quickly to feedback and improve our product without the financial burden of a traditional manufacturing setup.

Another key insight is how crucial it is to keep production close to home. Owning our manufacturing process ensures we can control quality, reduce turnaround times, and deliver seats tailored to each child’s needs. This approach also helps us stay true to our mission of affordability by cutting out middlemen and unnecessary costs.

Testa-Seat’s manufacturing journey reflects our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and empathy. By harnessing the power of 3D printing and focusing on what truly matters—helping families and children—we’ve been able to build a sustainable business that makes a meaningful difference.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Funding Your Business – How Testa-Seat Got Started

Testa-Seat’s journey began not as a business venture but as a heartfelt mission to solve a problem. From the very beginning, our focus was on helping children and families. We cared deeply about creating solutions for kids with disabilities, and the business side of things came second.

Once we saw the genuine interest from therapists and families, we realized the potential to help many more children. We started small, producing seats on a slow but steady basis, and began exploring funding opportunities to scale our efforts.

The reality was challenging: the adaptive seating market is smaller than what most investors look for, and there’s generally less interest in hardware products compared to software solutions. So, we adopted a slow-growth approach, dedicating hundreds of hours to design and production, while personally funding the materials and operations to keep things moving forward.

This determination paid off when we received our first investments and grants. These resources allowed us to scale our manufacturing capabilities and increase our exposure. Today, Testa-Seat is in a much stronger position, and we believe that by early next year, we will break even. We are actively seeking additional investments to accelerate growth and make an even bigger impact.

Our journey has been fueled by passion, hard work, and a steadfast belief in our mission. Every step has been about staying true to what matters most—creating life-changing solutions for children and their families.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.testa-seat.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testa_seat/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/testaSeat
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testa-seat/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@testa-seat

Image Credits

Alexander Geht